Further Education Assessment Submission Guidelines

Further Education Assessment Submission Title Guidelines Author Alan Serplus Location & Public Documents – FE (Internet) Reference Subject BTEC Submission Guidelines Revision Date 01/10/2015 Keywords Keywords, with, comma Last Saved 01/10/2015 11:42 Control Status Public Belfast Metropolitan College

1. Document History

3. Document Location This document is only valid on the day it was printed. The master and control version of this document will remain with Head of School – Standards Improvement Unit This document is a controlled document and should only be distributed as stated below from Head of School – Standards Improvement Unit

4. Revision History Date of this revision: 01/10/2015

Revision Previous Summary of Changes Changes date revision marked date 01/10/2015 n/a New document to replace all previous versions of the FE Guidelines for BTEC in accordance with changes within the Awarding Body

5. 6. Distribution This document has been distributed to:

Name Date of Issue Version All CAMs, cc HoS and HoF Public documents section of Internet

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Contents

7. Summary

Key Points to Remember: You will be issued an assessment schedule within two weeks of the beginning of the course that will clearly identify the submission dates for all assessments that you will undertake for the academic year or semester, as relevant. This can only be amended by the programme team. (Changes for BTEC programmes must be approved by the LIV). Submitted assessments, under normal circumstances will be return to students within 21 working days from submission, following internal verification and with suitable feedback. If you do not submit your assessment by the specified date (“the Assessment Deadline Submission Date”) or you do not attend for an assessment on the specified day and time without an agreed extension or approved Extenuating Circumstance from the delivering lecturer, you will not have the opportunity to resubmit any part of the assessment, unless approved by the Examination Board. Most awarding bodies will, (e.g. BTEC, OCN), under normal circumstances, allow two submissions to enable the ‘achievement’ each assessment, providing you meet any conditions as set down by the Awarding Body (E.g. Pearson Edexcel - BTEC have three set conditions to be met before resubmission will be authorised). Typical referral timescales will not exceed 15 working days. Lecturers do not have the authority, under any circumstances, to breach the rules of assessments as laid down by the Awarding Body. For BTEC level 2 & 3 only the Lead Internal Verifier (LIV) for your qualification can approve any resubmission/Retake of assessment work. (BTEC Level 2 NQF only) If you do not achieve an assessment after a resubmission you may be able to re-take the unit at a later date as laid down in the guidelines for Examination Boards under BTEC Level2/3 rules, or you may be able to obtain a Level 1 PASS for that unit, in accordance with rules of calculation of final grade. Please note this will have an effect on your final overall Level 2 Qualification Grade. The possibility, availability and/or timing of the any repeat assessment, if relevant will be dependent upon your overall performance and the outcome of the Examination Board. (BTEC Level 3 QCF only) If you do not achieve an assessment after a resubmission, you may have the option to re-take the unachieved Pass criteria under the BTEC rules of Assessment. If you do not achieve the PASS criteria of an assessment after a RETAKE you may be able to re-take the full unit at later date as laid down in the guidelines for Examination Boards under BTEC Level 2/3 rules. The possibility, availability and/or timing of the any repeat assessment, if relevant will be dependent upon your overall performance and the outcome of the Examination Board. The College guidelines for the submission of any RETAKE under BTEC QCF Level 3 is that students must submit work within a maximum of 10 working days following feedback on any resubmission. This period will be agree with the delivering lecturer and corresponds to timescales for resubmissions

8. Deadlines You MUST submit or take all assessments by/on the Assessment deadline/submission date, as detailed in the Assessment Schedule and on the issued assessment. Failure to submit any assessment or attend for any time constrained assessment, practical or test, without an agreed extension or approved mitigating Extenuating Circumstances submitted within the agreed deadlines, the assessment may be graded as Not Achieved. This can result in the non- achievement of the unit being assessed and consequently the full programme. There will be no opportunity to amend the submission after grading takes place. You may be able to retake the unit and or assessment during the second semester/year of the programme depending on your overall performance in that semester/year and the outcome of the Examination Board. The relevant rules for retaking of units/assessments within BTEC programmes are laid down in the Examination Board Guidelines.

9. BTEC Assessment Process Further and full details of the BTEC rules, regulations and requirements for internal assessment can be found at - BTEC Guide to Internal Assessment – Firsts and Nationals.

10. Appeals If you wish to make a formal written appeal against an assessment/grading decision you will be required to pay a fee. Appeals can only be considered if there has been extenuating circumstances, not previously known, or there has been procedural irregularities regarding the assessment process. This fee is refundable if the appeal is upheld. Further details and the appropriate documentation are available at – Assessment Appeals Policy.

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11. Assessment Submission Guidelines for FE Programmes

12. Staff Guidance on Grading and Feedback

13. Assessment FE Programmes - Summative Assessment Flowchart

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